Posthole digger



Dec. 6, 1949 w. RAGOSS 2,4 0,47

' POST HOLE DIGGER Filed Aug. 10, 19423 5 Shee ts-Sheet 1 I E1 Inventor Dec. 6, 1949 w. RAGOSS POST HOLE DIGGER Filed Aug. 10, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Walter Ragoss Dec. 6, 1949 w. RAGOSS 2,490,471

POST HOLE DIGGER Filed Aug. 10, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6

Inventor Dec. 6, 1949 w. RAGOSS 2,490,471

POST HOLE DIGGER Filed Aug. 10, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4' Fig.4.

Inventor Waller Ragoss EMg I Dec. 6, 1949 w. RAGOSS 2,490,471

' POST HOLE DIGGER Filed Aug. 10, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet 5 T a 11% Ii f A23? v Inventor Wei/fer Ragoss k Patented Dec. 6, 1949 POSTHOLE DIGGER Walter Ragoss, Breckinridge, kla., assignor of two-thirds to A. D. Adair, Enid, Okla.

Application August 10, 1948, Serial No. 43,359

7 Claims.

proved means for longitudinally adjusting. the

carriage in a raised or lowered position at a selected predetermined angle for making earth borings at controlled angles from a tractor or the 1 like.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a boring machine including a longitudinally movable carriage, a pair of guides slidably supporting the carriage, and novel and improved power actuated means for lowering and raising the carriage so that an auger or drill rotatably supported by the same will be directed toward the ground or raised therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a post hole digger including a rotary auger that is operatively connected to the power take-off shaft of a tractor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an earth boring apparatus including an auger having an attachment which will spread dirt removed from the hole being bored so that the same will not re-enter or fall into the hole during the raising operation of the auger.

Another object of the present invention is to v provide a tractor operated hole digger wherein the auger driving mechanism is operatively connected to the auger supporting carriage and which is manually operable for raising or lowering the carriage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a post hole digger that is extremely small and compact in structure and which is quickly and readily applied to or removed from a tractor in a convenient manner to be operated by the power take-off shaft of the tractor.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a post hole digger that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a tractor, and showing the; present post hole digger applied thereto, and dotted lines showing an alternate position for the boring element and supporting carriage therefor;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of Figure 1, and showing the earth bore disposed at a vertically inclined position relative to the tractor on which the present invention is mounted;

Figure 34s a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 4.:is a perspective view showing the pres ent inventionapplied to a tractor, the auger supporting carriage in a lowered position, and the auger disposed in a hole being dug by the same;

Figure 51is-a fragmentary perspective view of the present invention, and illustrating the manner in which the carriage is raised and lowered;

Figure Gisa side elevational view of the present invention, illustrating the manner in which the carriage is moved longitudinally on the guides therefor, and with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure '1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 1-1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the means employed in conjunction with the present inven tion for adjusting the guides at a selected angle relative to the tractor.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral I0 represents a substantially U-shaped horizontal base member or frame, the leg portions of which are provided with upstanding, lateral extensions l2 that are removably secured by suitable anchoring means or brackets M to the rear axle bearings it of a tractor I8.

Braces 20 fixed between the extensions l2 and the legs of the base member I0 prevent upward or downward movement of the support member ID relative to the bearing l6.

Fixed to the base member ID, is a transverse beam or rail 22 to-which there is secured, by welding or the like, a pair of rearwardly joined side rails '24. A further brace rail 25 is fixed at one terminal to the beam 22 and extends beneath one rail 24 and is secured to the remaining rail 24, as shown best in Figure 5 of the drawings. A rigid spacer strip or plate 2'! is fixed between the rail 25 and the side rail 24 beneath which the rail 25 is disposed. v

The lower terminals of a plurality of upwardly converging beams or rails 26, 28 and 38] are fixed by welding or the like to the transverse beam 22, and the joined ends of the rails 24, respectively. The upper terminals of the rails 23, 28 and 30 are joined and support a block 32 to which there is pivoted, in any suitable manner, a plate 34.

The plate 34 is rigidly secured by welding or the like to the central portion of a hollow, upper cross member or sleeve 36 that forms a support for an axial shaft 31, the ends of which project outwardly from the sleeve 36 and pivotally engagethe upper eye ends 38 of a pair of spaced, parallel, preferably tubular guide members or 3 bars 40, the lower ends of which are braced and connected by an arcuate strap 42.

A pair of tubular slides or sleeves 44 are mounted on the guides 40an'd form a supporting I means for a carriage or'gear housing that is rigidly secured to the same by suitable webs, spacers or gussets 48.

Rotatably supported in a suitable bearing-50;.

carried by the housing or carriage 46, is one end 52 of an auger or earth bore 54'ofa 'know'riand conventional type on which there is -suitably-- keyed for rotation therewith, a bevelledgearz56= that is disposed in the carriage or housing 46, as shown best in Figure dot the drawingsr- A drive shaft 58 is journalled for rotation in suitable bearings '59: mounted on the carriage 46;

- braces I28 which are fixed to the arcuate memthe outer end thereof" is'coupled-by a universal:

connector or coupling'60 t'o'amain drive shaft 62,

and its inner end is suitably keyed to-a furth'er bevelled gear 64 that-engagesthe gearr56;

Support arms or arm 66 are mounted'onthe bearing 59 and are fiXBd to'a bearing 68'thatrotatably engages a driven shaftl0, one end of which engages a bearing I2 .that' is mounted in" a gear casing I4.

A worm I6 mounted on the shaft I0, disposed in the casing l4, engages an annular gear I8 which is also disposed in the casing 14 and which is secured on a transverse driven shaft 80 that extends between the slides 44.

The shaft 83 is suitably supported by any suitable number of bearings 82 and braces-84 to'retain the same perpendicular to the longitudinalaxes ofthe guides 44, and-sprockets 86-are secured on the ends of the shaft 80 and engage a pair of link chains 88, the ends 'of which are anchored to the guides 40 in anysuitable manner so that the said chains will align the said guides.

ber 42 and the guide bars I24 include suitable pivot means or hanger straps I that will engage the rails 26 and 28. 1

Spring urged docking-pins: I32 are mounted on'th'e guidebars24and engage suitable apertures:- or 'openings in the bars I24 for locking the bars 1 I26" in a selected extended position and thus re- ;tain the 'guides'40 and. auger 54 at a selected verti-" callyl inclined angle or at a vertical angle; Obviously, any suitable'locking'means could be employed whereby the slidable members I26 will be disposed in a selected extende'd'position relal=tive to the members I24.

go the latterslightly in 'a 'clockwise" and "counter- Shields 90 carried by the bearings82; loosely em-.

brace and guard the sprockets 86;

An actuating shaft 92 is rotatably'supported in a bearing 04 fixed to the carriage 46; and a fur-' ther bearing or sleeve 96 mounted on the arm 66,

and the forward terminal of the shaft 02 is connected by virtue of a universal coupling '98'to' an elongated link or bar I00.

Mounted on the shaft'10,'isa 'pairofpulleys I02 and I04 that longitudinally align afurther pairof pulleys I06 and I08'that'are mounted on" the shaft'58. The pulleys I02 and 106 are con-- nected by an endless pulley belt I I0, the flightsof which are twisted, and the pulleys I04 and 100 are connected by an endless belt II2.

Obviously, the pulleys I02, I04 and'also pulleys I06, I08 may be formed in suitable blocks" by cutting grooves in which case th'e'pulleys I02 and I04 would be integral with =each other and the pulleys I06 and I08 would be integralwith each other. pulleys which are removable from each' other;

However, by including groups of? the same may be quickly and readily applied in A belt tightener or spool II4 engages the lower flights of both belts H0 and II2 and the spool II4'is supportedbyx'a link II6 which is pivoted in any suitable-manner to'the bearing 68.

clockwise direction, and the same so rotated that-'itwill be conveniently accessible to an operator seated on the-tractor w;

The"shaft- 62 is'hollo'w "and 'slidably' and adssoiustably-receives;in ariy suitablemanner; a furth'er-shaft'or'rod I40 thatdscoupled by a universal connection or coupling'element I42 to the power-take-ofi shaft I44 of the tractor I8.

In order to support-the present'invention relative to the tractor "I8;'so' that the same will be mobile,there is provided-an open-ended socket I465'niounted on the mild, that rotatably engages a vertically disposed'post'l 48-which is spring I supported'as at 50' toreduce the normal shock =prevalcnt to the'present "iIlVGIllllOIlfiS the same is moved overrough terrain. The lower end I52 of the post'I48 *bifurcatewand supports an axle for swivel wheel I54. 4

As best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings,

there is provideda panel 'or' ground engaging element I56 that 'willprevent dirt dug by the auger 54 from falling back into the hole as the said'auger is retracted or raised from the hole thatit is digging. Since as'the auger is raised,

the, same will still rotate, and the panel I56 will engage-andpush "the dirt aside 'from the bore madeby the auger.

In practical-use 'ofthe present invention, it-

is obvious that as the power'take-oif shaft'of the tractor I8 rotates the s'haft=58"and the auger 54'will be rotated;-- When it'is desirable to lower the auger 54 into the ground, the lever- I30 is actuated and the'spool I I4 will tighten the belt 0 whereby the shaft="w'ill be rotated in one direction-to cause-the sprockets'BG to engage and move downwardly'uponthe chains 88. After the augerhas been' extended or inserted into the ground surface a-selected distance, the lever 36 is actuated: in 'an opposite direction from that previously'described, the'p'ulley I I0 will become loose and the pulleyIIZ will'become tightened to rotate the shaft 80 in an opposite direction from that previously described and the carriage will move 'upwardlyfiupon-the guides 40.

5 that the guides 40 may be retained in a selected inclined vertical position so that the auger 54 will bore holes, openings or the like at a predetermined angle.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A post hole digger comprising a frame having a pair of elongated guide bars, a carriage, slides fixed to said carriage slidably engaging said guide bars, a pair of link chains held stationary on said frame and disposed adjacent and parallel to said guide bars, a driven shaft carried by said carriage, sprockets carried by said driven shaft engaging said link chains, a main drive shaft, an auger rotatably supported by said carriage, a further drive shaft connected to said main drive shaft and said auger, and means operatively connecting said further drive shaft to said driven shaft for rotation of the latter.

2. A post hole digger comprising a frame having a pair of elongated guide bars, a carriage, slides fixed to said carriage slidably engaging said guide bars, a pair of link chains held stationary on said frame and disposed adjacent and parallel to said guide bars, a driven shaft carried by said carriage, sprockets carried by said driven shaft engaging said link chains, a main drive shaft, an auger rotatably supported by said carriage, a further drive shaft connected to said main drive shaft and said auger, means connecting said driven shaft to said further drive shaft for rotation of the driven shaft in one direction, means connecting said driven shaft to said further drive shaft for rotation of said driven shaft in an opposite direction relative to said further drive shaft, and means for selectively actuating both of said last two mentioned connecting means.

3. A post hole digger comprising a frame having a pair of elongated guide bars, a carriage, slides fixed to said carriage slidably engaging said guide bars, a pair of link chains held stationary on said frame and disposed adjacent and parallel to said guide bars, a driven shaft carried by said carriage, sprockets carried by said driven shaft engaging said link chains, a main drive shaft, an auger rotatably supported by said carriage, a further drive shaft connected to said main drive shaft and said auger, a first pulley carried by said driven shaft, a second pulley mounted on said further drive shaft, an endless belt connecting said first pulley to said second pulley, afurther pulley secured to said driven shaft, a still further pulley mounted on said further drive shaft, an endless belt connecting said further pulley to said still further pulley and having crossed flights, and belt tightening means for selectively tightening a selected one of said belts.

4. The combination of claim 3 and a leveruniversally coupled to said belt tightening means for actuating the same.

5. A post hole digging attachment for tractors having power take-off shafts comprising, a frame including a pair of guide bars, means adjustably securing said frame to a tractor for angular ad justment of said guide bars, a pair of slides mounted on said guide bars, a carriage fixed to said slides, a pair of link chains held stationary on said frame and disposed adjacent and parallel to said guide bars, a driven shaft rotatably sup ported by said carriage, a pair of sprockets carried by said driven shaft engaging said link chains, an auger rotatably supported by said carriage and movable therewith, a main drive shaft, means universally coupling said main drive shaft to the power take-oil shaft, means connecting said auger to said main drive shaft for rotating the auger, and means operatively connecting said driven shaft to said main drive shaft for selectively rotating said driven shaft in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

6. A post hole digging attachment for tractors having power take-off shafts comprising, a frame including a pair of guide bars, means adjustably securing said frame to a tractor for angular adjustment of said guide bars, a pair of slides mounted on said guide bars, a carriage fixed to said slides, a pair of link chains held stationary on said frame and disposed adjacent and parallel to said guide bars, a driven shaft rotatably supported by said carriage, a pair of sprockets carried by said driven shaft engaging said link chains, an auger rotatably supported by said carriage and movable therewith, a main drive shaft, means universally coupling said main drive shaft to the power take-off shaft, means connecting said auger to said main drive shaft for rotating the auger, said main drive shaft including a reduced section and a main section universally coupled to each other, a pair of pulleys carried by the reduced section and rotatable therewith, a further pair of pulleys carried by said driven shaft, a first endless belt trained over one pulley on said reduced section and one pulley on said driven shaft, a further endless belt trained over the remaining of said pulleys on said reduced section and the remaining of said pulleys on said driven shaft and having its flights crossed, and a belt tightener selectively engageable with said endless belts for rotation of said driven shaft in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said means adjustably securing said frame to a tractor includes a plurality of extendable braces.

WALTER RAGO'SS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,315,565 Meyers Sept. 9, 1919 1,478,824 Gehrandt Dec. 25, 1923 2,217,300 Templeton Oct. 8, 1940 2,239,024 Vance Apr. 22, 1941 2,320,775 Garner June 1, 1943 2,321,680 Houston June 15, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 220,790 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1924 

